Top 10 MLB Trade Deadline day deals since 2001
![Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Sep 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jon Lester (31) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of the 2014 American League Wild Card playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/af3714b8a226bb38be5e5c6a6a3e65ef1c78a9b01147526349568f4b3ed99657.jpg)
8. Padres trade Corey Kluber to Indians, get Ryan Ludwick
In a seemingly long-winded, meaningless three-team trade in 2010, the San Diego Padres traded young starting pitcher Corey Kluber to the Cleveland Indians while the Tribe sent Jake Westbrook to the St. Louis Cardinals and the Friars ended up with slugger Ryan Ludwick.
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All of that seemed like a deal that was just shuffling minor pieces to each team, getting very little in return. However, that didn’t turn out to be the case as the July 31, 2010, deal ended up working in the Indians’ favor big time.
At the time, Kluber was just a 24-year-old minor league prospect that had yet to make a major league debut. Since then, he has started 92 games, going 37-30, and has posted a 3.36 career ERA.
Kluber’s best season came in 2014 when he won 18 games, finished with a 2.44 ERA and recorded an impressive 269 strikeouts. He also won the American League Cy Young Award last season and finished 11th in the MVP race.
Not many people believed that he would end up becoming the No. 1 starter for a major league team, but he has exceeded expectations.
As for Westbrook, he struggled in three-plus seasons with the Cardinals, finishing with an ERA below 4.00 just one time and starting his final game in 2013. Ludwick played just 160 games with the Padres, hitting 17 homers and driving in 90 RBI.
The Indians clearly won this one.
Next: 7. Red Sox trade Justin Masterson for VMart